What Happens During a Work First New Jersey Interview?
What Happens During a Work First New Jersey Interview?
After you apply for Work First New Jersey, or WFNJ, your County Social Service Agency will schedule an interview.
The interview is an important part of determining whether you qualify for WFNJ/TANF or General Assistance (GA). It may take place by phone or in person.
During the interview, an eligibility worker will go over your application, ask questions about your household and finances, and explain which documents you still need to provide.
The interview is also an opportunity to explain changes or circumstances that may not be clear from the application.
What to Expect at a WFNJ Interview
| Topic | What the Worker May Review |
|---|---|
| Household | Who lives with you, relationships, dependent children, and who is applying |
| Income | Wages, unemployment, Social Security, child support, and other income |
| Resources | Bank accounts and other assets with cash value |
| Housing | Your address and current housing situation |
| Employment | Current job, recent employment, job search, and ability to work |
| Documents | Identification, income records, bank statements, and other verification |
| Child support | Information about the other parent when applying for TANF for a child |
| Immediate need | Whether you currently lack food, shelter, utilities, or necessary clothing |
| Work support | Possible transportation, child care, training, or other work-related assistance |
Not every applicant will be asked the same questions. Your interview will depend on the information in your application and your household's circumstances.
Questions About Your Household
The worker will usually confirm who lives in your household and who is applying for benefits.
Be prepared to discuss:
- Your current address
- Everyone living in the home
- Each person's relationship to you
- Dependent children
- Marital status
- Whether someone recently moved in or out
- Whether you expect your household to change soon
Answer based on your current situation.
If something has changed since you submitted the application, tell the worker during the interview.
Questions About Income
Your eligibility worker will review money coming into the household.
This can include:
- Pay from a job
- Self-employment income
- Unemployment benefits
- Social Security
- Supplemental Security Income
- Disability payments
- Pensions
- Child support
- Workers' compensation
- Interest or dividends
- Regular financial support from another person
- Other income
If your pay changes from week to week, explain that.
The county may look at recent earnings and use them to estimate the income your household is expected to receive.
Questions About Resources
WFNJ also considers certain resources with cash value.
The worker may ask about:
- Checking accounts
- Savings accounts
- Cash
- Stocks or bonds
- Certificates of deposit
- Certain property
- Other financial resources
If the county asks about an account with a small balance, report it accurately and let the eligibility worker determine whether it counts.
What Documents Will the County Ask For?
The interview helps the county determine what still needs to be verified before your application can be approved.
Common verification includes:
- Valid identification
- Proof of where you live
- Recent pay stubs
- Employer letters
- Benefit award letters
- Bank statements
- Social Security numbers
- Immigration documentation for noncitizens who are applying
If you are experiencing homelessness, the usual proof-of-residence requirement does not apply.
The interviewer may request additional documents based on something discussed during your interview.
What If You Do Not Have a Document?
Do not assume that your application will automatically be denied.
Tell the worker what you are having trouble obtaining and ask:
- Exactly what information needs to be verified
- Which documents the county will accept
- When the document is due
- How you should submit it
Documents can generally be uploaded through MyNJHelps. If you applied in person, you may also be able to link your case to an online account and upload the requested paperwork.
Questions About Work and Employment
Work First New Jersey is designed to combine temporary cash assistance with employment and training services.
The standard weekly participation requirements for recipients who are required to work are:
| Program | Standard Work or Activity Requirement |
|---|---|
| WFNJ/TANF | 35 hours per week |
| General Assistance | 30 hours per week |
You may be asked about:
- Your current job
- Your most recent employment
- Why a previous job ended
- Your work experience
- Job skills
- Education or training
- Whether you are currently looking for work
- Problems that make it difficult for you to work
If you become a WFNJ participant, you and a case manager will develop an Individual Responsibility Plan, or IRP.
The IRP identifies employment goals, work activities, and support services that may help you participate.
Tell the Worker About Barriers to Employment
Do not leave out an important problem because you think it will hurt your application.
WFNJ specifically recognizes that some people face barriers that interfere with employment.
Tell the worker if you are dealing with circumstances such as:
- A physical disability
- A mental health condition
- Pregnancy
- Caring for a family member with a disability
- Caring for a very young child
- A language barrier
- Difficulty reading or completing forms
- Substance-use treatment needs
- Family violence
- Transportation problems
- Child-care problems
Some people may qualify for a deferral, which temporarily delays the normal work requirement.
Other problems may lead to support services instead.
For example, qualifying WFNJ participants may receive help with transportation, child care, uniforms, books, supplies, or certain testing and licensing expenses.
Child-Support Questions for TANF Applicants
If you are requesting TANF assistance for a dependent child, the county will generally discuss child-support requirements.
You may be asked what you know about the child's other parent, including:
- Full name
- Address
- Date of birth
- Social Security number, if known
- Employer, if known
- Other information that could help identify or locate the parent
You are generally expected to provide information that you know or can reasonably obtain.
What If Providing the Information Would Be Unsafe?
Tell your worker.
New Jersey has protections for certain applicants affected by family violence. Do not put yourself or your child in danger because you believe you must contact the other parent yourself.
Tell the County If You Have an Immediate Need
Every WFNJ applicant must be evaluated for immediate need.
Tell the eligibility worker clearly if your household:
- Has no food or not enough food for immediate needs
- Has no shelter
- Is about to lose shelter
- Has lost or is about to lose essential utilities
- Does not have enough clothing to protect household members' health and safety
Immediate need is separate from the normal 30-day application timeline and may require faster action.
Do not wait until the end of the interview to mention an emergency.
How to Prepare for Your Interview
Before the appointment:
- Review the application you submitted.
- Write down anything that has changed since you applied.
- Gather recent pay stubs and benefit letters.
- Have bank information available.
- Gather identification and proof of address.
- Have information about household members ready.
- Write down any questions you want to ask.
- Keep your phone nearby if the appointment is by telephone.
- Make sure the county has your current phone number.
If your income changes frequently, gather several recent pay stubs rather than only one.
If a medical condition or another circumstance affects your ability to work, have any documentation you already possess available and ask whether the county needs a specific form completed.
Questions You Should Ask Before the Interview Ends
Before the conversation ends, make sure you understand what happens next.
Consider asking:
- Do you need any more documents from me?
- What is the deadline for submitting them?
- How should I submit them?
- Is anything else required before my application can be approved?
- Do I need another appointment?
- Who should I contact if I have a question?
- Am I being evaluated for immediate need?
- Are there work-support services that may apply to me?
Write down the worker's name and any deadlines you are given.
What Happens After the Interview?
If more verification is needed, the county will tell you what to submit.
New Jersey advises applicants to apply even if they do not initially have every required document. An eligibility worker can send a notice explaining what remains outstanding.
For most households, the County Social Service Agency has up to 30 days after the application is submitted to determine whether the applicant qualifies for TANF or General Assistance.
Read every notice you receive and respond to document requests by the deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the WFNJ interview always in person?
No. New Jersey states that interviews may be conducted by phone or in person.
Is the interview required?
Yes. Completing the county interview is part of the WFNJ application process.
What if my information changed after I applied?
Tell your eligibility worker during the interview. Changes in income, employment, household members, address, or other circumstances can affect the application.
What if I cannot work because of a health condition?
Explain the condition to your worker. You may qualify for a deferral from normal work requirements, and the county may request medical documentation.
What if I am missing documents?
Complete the interview and explain what is missing. Ask exactly what the county needs, whether another form of verification can be accepted, and when it must be submitted.
Where do I go if I need help after the interview?
Contact the County Social Service Agency handling your application. If you applied online, you can also check your MyNJHelps account for notices and document requests.